Disc stack connector

Abstract

A wiring system for modular structures, such as prefabricated panels, which utilizes a novel disc stack connector. The connector comprises a stack of alternating conductive and insulative discs which are held in place by a rod traversing a central aperture in each disc. A primary supply cable may be attached to the disc stack connector, allowing parallel connections to secondary cables. Connector heads on the cables have several prongs for engaging the conductive discs. In the preferred embodiment, the conductive discs are smaller than the insulative discs, and one insulative disc is made larger to provide keying with a slot in the connector heads (i.e., the heads are polarized). The connector and cables are located out of sight within the raceways of the prefabricated panels.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for providing multiple electrical connections, comprising: a plurality of conductive disc members;   a plurality of insulative disc members interposed between said conductive disc members;   means for supporting said conductive and insulative disc members, thereby forming a disc stack; and   means for providing a clearance space on each side of said conductive disc members.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said conductive and insulative disc members each have a central aperture, and said supporting means further comprises: a rod member having a base and a free end, extending longitudinally through said apertures in each of said conductive and insulative disc members; and   means for securing said conductive and insulative disc members to said rod member.   
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2 further comprising means for electrically isolating said rod member from each of said conductive disc members. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 2 wherein each said insulative disc member further includes an integral spacer portion located near the center of each said insulative disc member for providing a clearance space between the periphery of each said insulative disc member and the periphery of an adjacent one of said conductive disc members. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 4 wherein said apertures in said conductive disc members are larger than said apertures in said insulative disc members, and each of said insulative disc members further includes a bushing extending from said spacer portion into said aperture of an adjacent one of said conductive disc members, said bushings thereby electrically isolating said conductive disc members from said rod member. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for mechanically polarizing said disc stack. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6 wherein: said insulative disc members are generally circular, each having a first diameter; and   said polarizing means comprises a keying disc member having a diameter greater than said first diameter.   
     
     
       8. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for mounting said disc stack to a surface. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cables, each said cable including a connector head having multiple prong means for separately engaging said conductive disc members. 
     
     
       10. A disc stack connector for providing electrical connections in parallel, comprising: a plurality of conductive discs each having a central aperture;   a plurality of insulative discs each having a central aperture, said insulative discs being in spaced relation with, and interposed between, said conductive discs, and each of said insulative discs further including an integral spacer located near the center of each said insulative disc for providing a clearance space between the periphery of each said insulative disc and the periphery of an adjacent one of said conductive discs;   a rod member having a base and a free end, extending longitudinally through said apertures in each of said conductive and insulative discs;   means for securing said conductive and insulative discs to said rod member;   means for mechanically polarizing the disc stack connector; and   a mounting plate attached to said base of said rod member.   
     
     
       11. The disc stack connector of claim 10 further comprising means for electrically isolating each said conductive disc from said rod member. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim 11 wherein said apertures in said conductive discs are larger than said apertures in said insulative discs, and each of said insulative discs further includes a bushing extending from said spacer into said aperture of an adjacent one of said conductive discs, said bushings thereby electrically isolating said conductive discs from said rod member. 
     
     
       13. The disc stack connector of claim 10 wherein each said conductive disc is accessible at least 270° along its periphery. 
     
     
       14. The disc stack connector of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of cables, each said cable including a connector head having prong means for engaging said conductive discs. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 10 wherein: said insulative discs are generally circular, each having a common diameter; and   said polarizing means comprises an insulative keying disc having a diameter greater than said common diameter.   
     
     
       16. A wiring system for supplying power to a modular structure, comprising: a plurality of prefabricated panels each having two ends and a raceway therebetween, at least one end of each of said panels being disposed adjacent an end of another one of said panels;   means for attaching said adjacent panels;   at least one terminal block located within one of said raceways;   at least one disc stack connector located within one of said raceways, comprising: five generally circular, metallic discs each having a central aperture,   six generally circular, polymeric discs each having a central aperture, said polymeric discs being in spaced relation with, and interposed between, said metallic discs, whereby said polymeric discs successively alternate with said metallic discs, each said polymeric disc further including an integral spacer located near the center of each said polymeric disc for providing a clearance space between the periphery of each said polymeric disc and the periphery of an adjacent one of said metallic discs,   a rivet rod having a base and a free end, extending longitudinally through said apertures in each of said metallic and polymeric discs,   means for securing said metallic and polymeric discs to said rod member,   means for electrically isolating said rivet rod from said metallic discs, and   a mounting plate attached to said base of said rod member, said mounting plate being fastened to a floor of said raceway;     a primary supply cable having five conductors therein for connection to an external power source, terminating in a first connector head having five prongs which are connected to said conductors, said prongs also engaging said metallic discs of said disc stack connector; and   a secondary cable having five conductors therein and having distal and proximate ends, said proximate end terminating in a second connector head having five prongs which are electrically connected to said conductors in said secondary cable, said prongs further engaging said metallic discs of said disc stack connector, and said distal end of said secondary cable being connected to said terminal block, thereby providing electrical continuity between said primary supply cable and said terminal block.   
     
     
       17. The wiring system of claim 16 wherein said metallic and polymeric discs are generally parallel, and said metallic discs allow essentially 360° access along their peripheries. 
     
     
       18. The wiring system of claim 16 wherein: one of said six polymeric discs is a keying disc having a diameter greater than the diameter of the other polymeric discs; and   said first and second connector heads each have a slot therein for engaging said keying disc.   
     
     
       19. A device for providing multiple electrical connections, comprising: a plurality of conductive disc members;   a plurality of insulative disc members interposed between said conductive disc members, said insulative disc members being generally circular and having a first diameter;   means for supporting said conductive and insulative disc members, thereby forming a disc stack; and   means for mechanically polarizing said disc stack, said polarizing means including a keying disc member having a diameter greater than said first diameter.